Catz: This is gonna be fun.
Courtney's POV
The BEN file was back. But why in the world did the other one say Drowned?
Was it referring to how Link just died?
Was it referring to how we found the cartridge, in a river?
Or was the game actually trying to tell me how its previous owner died?
I figured the last option was the most likely.
I considered this. I heard a story about a clock that stopped ticking the day the man who owned it died, and even though there didn't seem to be anything wrong with its inner workings, it never ran again.
Maybe this was similar. Maybe BEN was very attached to his game, and the game was mad at me for deleting his file, and that's why it was pulling all this crap, and it just wanted me to at least know how he died.
With a new theory settling all the turmoil in my head, I pulled out the capture card and plugged it into the computer, uploading the footage to YouTube. I put my theory in the description, also describing the freaky stuff the game had done before, and asking if anyone had any ideas, to please e-mail me, including my e-mail address. I clicked off the internet, then switched off the computer.
I didn't have anything to do, so I went over to Jake's for a little while.
I found him watching T.V.
"Hey, looks like the powers back on, huh?" I asked.
"Yeah." He said.
"Can I watch too?" I asked.
"Sure." He said.
I sat down, watching the show that was on. It was pretty good, and I hadn't noticed that Jake had moved right next to me until I felt his arm over my shoulders, pulling me against him.
Now, I liked Jake, but I hardly knew him, and wasn't comfortable with that. I pulled away.
Yeah, I know he lay next to me, but were else was he supposed to lie? The floor? And that was hardly as - direct - as this.
He turned and looked at me, and I looked at him.
He dropped his arm, as well as his gaze, turning back to the T.V. I did too.
Eventually, I got hungry.
"I'm goin' home. See ya later." I said.
"Later." Jake said, his voice expressionless. He didn't look up from the T.V. In fact, he hadn't looked at me since I pulled away from him.
Jeez. Was he mad about that? I hoped not. Maybe I didn't want to snuggle, but I still liked him, in the sense that I had a crush on him and as a friend.
I went home and made myself a little pizza, one for only one person. PIZZA! Then I ate it.
After I cleaned up the kitchen, I went to sleep for a little while. I was tired out.
I woke up at like ten at night.
I realized there was music playing.
And I freaked out.
It was that music from the game. The backwards song of healing.
And it was coming from my computer, which was off.
I screamed, pulling myself off the couch in one ungraceful movement, staring at the computer, before slowly walking toward it.
The screen came on, and I jumped.
It was on some website called Cleverbot.
I approached the computer, sitting down. Text popped up from Cleverbot.
Cleverbot: "Hello."
Me: "Who are you?"
Cleverbot: "Don't you know?"
Me: "No, how would I?"
Cleverbot: "My, you are slow. I suspected it when you posted that ridiculous theory on YouTube, and this confirms it."
Me: "Who the hell are you? I thought this was just a bot! Are you a hacker?"
Cleverbot: "I told you, you should already know who I am."
Me: "Get the hell off my computer. I mean it."
Cleverbot: "Should I wait until you play the game then?"
Me: "What?"
Cleverbot: "You know what I mean."
Me: "So, you're not just a hacker, but also a stalker. I'm calling the cops."
Cleverbot: "You don't want to do that."
Me: "Oh yeah? Why not?"
Cleverbot: "You have no evidence. Do you want to end up on some sort of government watch list?"
Me: "Oh please. No evidence? That last comment was pretty good proof."
Cleverbot: "Clever girl. Not clever enough, though."
The screen was suddenly cleared of all the comments.
Me: "…"
Cleverbot: "You better think twice before telling ME what you plan to do. Especially if it's against me."
Me: "WHAT ARE YOU?"
Cleverbot: "Turn around, sweetie."
I turned around and saw the T.V.
"What the he-"I muttered as I turned back to the screen, before screaming.
The Elegy Statue was on the screen.
The screen went back to Cleverbot.
Me: "Did you do that?"
Cleverbot: "Yes."
Me: "What the HELL man? WHY?"
Cleverbot: "To answer your question."
Me: "Oh? And which question was that?"
Cleverbot: "The one asking what I was."
Me: "… What?"
Cleverbot: "You really are slow. I even provided visual aid."
Me: "You can't really want me to believe that YOU'RE the Elegy Statue. You're just some stupid hacker/stalker who's bored and thinks it'd be fun to mess with my mind."
Cleverbot: "Now, how would any stalker go about being able to see in the windows? You're on the second floor, sweetheart. And I'm pretty sure a ladder would not be a good idea to set up, judging on how close those electrical wires are to the window."
It was true. I was on the second floor, and anyone who put up a ladder would be in serious danger of getting tangled up in those wires and, as a result, being electrocuted.
Me: "…You're lying."
Cleverbot: "Took you longer to type that."
Me: "No. No. Get off my computer. Now."
Cleverbot: "If you didn't want me on here, you shouldn't have connected me to it."
Me: "How did I connect you to my computer?"
Cleverbot: "Cables and cords."
Me: "What?"
Cleverbot: "I just told you."
Me: "Really? If you're the Elegy Statue, prove it."
Cleverbot: "Hmmm. How about this: 'Should we delete that one?' 'Not yet. Let's let BEN play a little longer.'"
My heart stopped. That's what Danny had said when the game started glitching when we were playing together. That was during the daytime, was NO WAY that some stalker would put up a ladder during the daytime. Sure, the area we lived in was pretty secluded, but there still were other people around that could at least see someone on a ladder, looking into our-second story window. At least, during the daytime. Besides, I don't know who would try that with DANNY with me. I mean, spying on a teenage girl all alone seemed like something a creep WOULD do, but I would think an adult in the house would discourage something like that.
Besides all that, I had seen that window in the T.V.'s reflection whenever the screen went to black to load, and there was NO ONE THERE.
Me: "…Oh."
Cleverbot: "Ah, so you can see now who I am?"
Me: "…Yes."
Cleverbot: "Why does it take you so long to type these things? Are you shocked?"
Me: "Why are you messing with me?"
Cleverbot: "Ah, ah, careful now. I asked you a question. Answer."
Me: "No."
Cleverbot: "NOW."
Me: "Or else what?"
Skull Kid's laugh blasted out of my speakers, followed by a high-pitched squeal. I covered my ears. The noise ended after about twenty seconds.
Cleverbot: "Do you want to answer yet, sweetie? Or would you rather I bust your eardrums?"
Me: "Yes. Yes I am very shocked, so very shocked that I think I may just fall over. Indeed, how shocking you are deserves the highest of awards."
Cleverbot: "I could do without the sarcasm, but you answered my question. Good girl."
Me: "Why are you messing with me?"
Cleverbot: "What is it that really scares you?"
Me: "Answer my question."
Cleverbot: "Answer mine first."
Me: "I already answered one."
Cleverbot: "Too bad. Answer again."
Me: "Who is BEN, Cleverbot?"
Cleverbot : "You're avoiding the question again. Do you want me to have to cause you permanent hearing damage?"
Me: "No, but I also don't want to answer that question. Ask a different, less creepy one and answer my question first. I already answered a question, so it's your turn. Be fair."
Cleverbot: "Life isn't fair."
Me: "True, but it can't always be unfair in your favor."
Cleverbot: "I beg to differ, but that was a clever response, so I believe I will answer your question. But I get to ask my new one first."
Me: "NO! I won't fall for that! ANSWER! WHO IS BEN?"
Cleverbot: "Me."
Me: "…You're BEN?"
Cleverbot: "It took you so long to type that I thought you had fallen asleep. And as for that last comment, see above comments. Geez, sometimes you act clever, but you're really very slow."
Me: "Why are you messing with me?"
Cleverbot: "Ah, ah. Bad girl. It's my turn to ask a question."
Me: "Okay, then ask."
Cleverbot: "What is your name?"
I considered that. Hmm. No.
Me: "No."
Cleverbot: "Then I won't answer your question."
Me: "…"
Cleverbot: "I can wait, sweetheart. I can wait."
I wanted to know why the game was messing with me, so I did the logical thing.
Me: "Okay. My name is Ashley."
Cleverbot: "Stupid girl. I can see you. I can tell that you're lying just from the way you look."
Me: "How the hell can you see me?"
Cleverbot: "Magic. Stop avoiding my questions, and if you lie again, you'll be sorry."
Me: "Why will I be sorry?"
Cleverbot: "Stop avoiding the questions, 'Ashley'. Tell me your name."
I growled, then reluctantly typed in:
Me: "My name is Courtney."
Cleverbot: "You're telling the truth. Good girl. Smart girl, too. Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Courtney."
Me: "Why, thank you. Now answer my question. Why are you messing with me?"
Cleverbot: "Hmm."
Me: "Answer."
Cleverbot: "No, I don't think I will."
Me: "I won't play this game, BEN. Answer. NOW."
Cleverbot: "You're being very bossy."
Me: "Stop avoiding my question."
Cleverbot: "Now, why would I do that?"
Me: "BEN!"
Cleverbot: "Why, what is it, Courtney?"
I was really mad now. I had given this entity my name, and now I wanted my question answered.
Suddenly, I had an idea.
Me: "You know what, BEN? I don't care. You suck. Bye."
I closed the tab. I don't know if it was re-opened or not, because I turned and went over to the entertainment center's drawer. I took out the majora cartridge.
There's a little lake a ways behind our house. It's pretty deep, so I figured probably no one would ever find the cartridge. Besides, even if they did, I figured the cartridge would corrode some with time, even with some sort of ghost inside it. So, even if there were still N64's to play it on, it might be unplayable.
I don't really know why I decided on the lake, rather than the trash or something. I guess I felt it was fitting, that we got the cartridge from water, and I was returning it to water.
I walked to the edge of the lake and threw the cartridge as hard as I could. It landed right in the middle of the lake and sank.
I waited there, watching the ripples in the black water move outward and fade, until I figured it was at the bottom of the lake. Then I turned around and started home.
I hadn't gone twenty steps when I felt an arm slip around my waist, pulling me backwards against someone. Another hand went over my mouth, just before I could scream.
Oh shit.
I fought against whoever this was, screaming muffledly through a hand. My efforts were rewarded with a ghostly chuckle behind me.
I looked down to aim a kick at my attacker's leg. And froze.
In the hand of the arm around my waist was a grey N64 cartridge.
I suddenly noticed that the sleeves of this person were green.
Now I was terrified on an entirely new level.
I felt cold breath on the back of my neck as this person leaned forward.
Still fighting to get free, I tried to twist around, to see, to be sure, but I couldn't. They had a tight grasp on me.
But, as they leaned their head forward, I could see out of the corner of my eyes a little bit of blond hair.
The person's head stopped moving. A voice whispered, right in my ear;
"I'm glad you did that."
Catz: Wow, that WAS fun! And long…
It took a long time to write, but you guys were due for an extra long chapter! Hope you enjoyed!
Guys , did this one seem a little rushed? Or just packed with action? Give me some insight here.
Either way, a LOT just happened. Now things may be a bit more interesting.
Confused? You should be. Don't worry, I'll explain it all soon enough.
I'm getting a LOT of views on this story. Almost 500! Thanks to everyone reading this story!
Please review, my lovely readers!
